Honduras Puts Rightist Officer In a U.N. Role

By BARBARA CROSSETTE

Published: February 20, 1996

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 19—
Honduras has appointed as a representative to the United Nations a former general who last year defied civilian efforts to arrest military officers on charges of rights abuses and who staged an intimidating show of military force in the capital.

The officer, Luis Alonso Discua Elvir, who has been the Honduran commander in chief for the last five years, was appointed alternate permanent representative to the United Nations early this year and is expected to take up his appointment in early March, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry said today.

The assignment is being protested by human rights groups here and in Honduras. Human Rights Watch called his appointment "a serious affront to the United Nations' avowed purpose of 'promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all.' "

Honduras now holds a rotating seat on the Security Council for a two-year term, and will serve as president of the Council in October. Since the chief representative is not always on hand, Mr. Discua could be expected to take part in decisions or preside over the Council from time to time.

Mr. Discua, who has left his military post, commanded the Honduran Army Battalion 3-16, which has been charged with kidnappings, torture and killings during the 1980's, when Honduras was a staging point for American-supported resistance to the leftist Sandinista Government in Nicaragua. Last August he sent troops and artillery into the streets of the capital, Tegucigalpa, after civilian authorities ordered the arrest of military officers.

He later apparently encouraged some of the accused officers to go into hiding, saying at one point, "The armed forces do not trust the present system of justice."

The confrontation began after 10 officers were charged with kidnapping and torturing six leftist students in 1982. Because all the students survived to testify against the officers, the case is seen as the first step in bringing numerous officers to justice.

Human rights officials and private groups say there are about 26 clandestine cemeteries around the country where at least 184 people may have been buried after they disappeared into military hands.

Honduran officials say up to 100 officers may have been involved in the disappearances, torture and deaths. The Government of President Carlos Roberto Reina is pressing trials, despite the defendants' attempts to have charges overturned.

Members of Battalion 3-16, including Mr. Discua, got support and training from the American military and from the Central Intelligence Agency, which also paid officers as informants.